HC Deb 22 June 1936 vol 313 cc1434-6W
Captain STRICKLAND

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the difficulty and expense incurred by motor cyclists and motor drivers in attending distant police courts at which the magistrates are unwilling to hold evening sessions, he will consider the setting up of evening courts to try alleged motor offences?

Mr. LLOYD

As previously stated, it is for the Justices themselves to decide when they will sit to hear cases. If the suggestion is that in districts where Justices do not think evening sittings necessary or desirable, some specially constituted Tribunal should be set up to act in place of the Justices, my right hon. Friend could not support such a suggestion.

Captain STRICKLAND

asked the Home Secretary whether he will issue a circular recommending that, in the cases of motor cyclists and motor drivers attending distant police courts held in the daytime and entailing loss of wages and cost of transport, the magistrates shall take such proved loss into consideration in assessing fines in the event of conviction and for the assessment of costs in the event of acquittal?

Mr. LLOYD

Motorists are not the only persons who may be put to inconvenience or monetary loss by having to answer a criminal charge. When a fine is imposed, it is the duty of the Court in fixing the amount to take into account all the circumstances of the individual case, including the means of the offender. The circumstances inevitably vary from case to case, and my right hon. Friend could not undertake to issue such a circular as my hon. Friend appears to have in mind.